GENEVA
Authint Mail
GENEVA — Victims of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests said Tuesday they hoped UN scrutiny of the Vatican would help finally to hold perpetrators to account and halt future violations.
“This is an important moment for those of us who were raped, sodomised and sexually violated as children by priests,” said Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a global coalition based in the United States.
“Over the years, we’ve struggled to understand why Church officials continue to support and cover up for sexual predators,” Blaine told reporters, two days before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child was to examine the Vatican’s record.
“We’re hoping that finally the truth will be exposed and, more importantly, the Church officials will change what they are doing and that Pope Francis will take action that will actually protect children,” she added.
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